Must-see shopping in Kazakhstan

  • Sary Arka

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    This mall is worth visiting for two stores. Red Carpet features ladies' fashion and accessories by Kazakhstan designers such as Aida Kaumenova, Gulnara…

  • Empire

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    These (mostly) tasteful, high-end gifts include framed traditional silver belt ornaments and necklaces, locally designed crystal goblet sets, chess sets,…

  • Central State Museum

    Almaty

    The ground-floor shop here has a good but pricey selection of Kazakh carpets (60,000T to 80,000T for a 2m-by-3m one) and other Kazakh souvenirs. The…

  • Talisman

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    A mind-boggling array of all things Kazakhstan: felt yurts, hats and booties, replica nomadic objects, such as the phallic-looking vessels for carrying…

  • Amanulla Shafii

    Almaty

    Amanulla's little shop has a decent range of reasonably priced Kazakh carpets and dearer ones from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

  • Akademkniga

    Almaty

    Best place in Kazakhstan for hiking, road and city maps; also has dictionaries and phrase books.

  • Limpopo

    Almaty

    For sports gear head to Limpopo, with mountain bikes and winter sports equipment.

  • Robinzon

    Almaty

    Equipment for hikers, campers, rafters, fishers and hunters.

  • Ramstor

    Almaty

    Almaty's burgeoning middle class shops at supermarkets and glitzy malls stocked with expensive, often imported, goods and at international stores such as…

  • Mega Alma-Ata

    Almaty

    The biggest and newest mall with small skating rinks (has a climbing centre too).

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